Celebrate!

Yesterday we celebrated Dad's life on Earth, as we said our final farewells.  We worked hard to plan the Mass, and short ceremony at the mausolium.  We didn't plan for the half inch of snow - but it was OK.  At the viewing I saw many people I hadn't seen in years.  Shirley Meurer and her son Greg - who looks just like his dad, Jim Duffy - both old neighbors.  Uncle Andy and Aunt Mary - with their families.  Friends of Mom and Dad - "the IRS ladies", Joe and Dot Willett.  Mom's family - Aunt Birtie and Uncle Francis, and all my cousins.  The remaining Kessen siblings - I so felt their love and support.
We remembered Dad.  He was a man with strong traditions, and bent on passing them down to his children.  He was a caretaker, he was full of advice - all through my life guiding me with his words of advice.  Dad was a fixer - he could build or ceate anything.  And when you needed something done - Dad was the guy to go to.  He was involved in his homeowner's association, he was the one who knew how to repair and handle the sump pump in the elevator, he built a playhouse for my boys when they were younger - a camp house in the woods.   And Dad was the life of any party.  He could mix some mean drinks, and he could dance.  But mostly Dad was a man who loved us all to the best of his ability, who lived his life guided by his faith, who cared for us and raised us to be strong and independant people.